Shock-resistant filament guide



mama Feb. 1, 1949 SHOCK-RESISTANT FILAMENT GUIDE I Arthur K. Seemamn, Manhasset,

N. Y., assignor to The Linde Air Products Company, a corporation of Ohio Application May 30, 1945, Serial No. 596,799

9 Claims. (01. 242-157) The object of my invention is the provision of a novel Wear-resistant filament guide which is highly resistant to shock or other force.

Filament guides are widely used in industry for guiding filaments, such as yarn, thread, wire, sound track and picture film, and the like during their processing. It has been customary in the past to mount filament guides rigidly in position,

but such a rigid mounting is unsatisfactory for guides formed from thin rods of synthetic unicrystalline corundum (sapphire) and spine] because they are relatively fragile and may break under mechanical shock, as when a loom operator accidentally strikes a guide with his hand.

In accordance with the present invention, my novel filament guide comprises a support, a filament guiding device such as a corundum loop or pigtailf' and shock-absorbent material interposed between the support and the guiding device which cushions the guiding device and absorbs any force applied thereto, thus preventing breakage.

In the drawing, the single figure is an enlarged side elevational view showing one embodiment of a filament guide constructed in accordance with the invention, parts being'in vertical mid-section.

As shown, my novel filament guide comprises a support ll, universally movable flexible coupling means I3 secured to and projecting from the support, and a corundum filament-guiding pigtail l 5 independent of the support and secured to the coupling means for guiding a filament 5 through the loop I! of the pigtail. With this construction and arrangement, when force is applied to the guiding device IS, the coupling means l3 yields by flexing and the guiding device moves freely therewith to a position such 'as that shown in broken lines, thus absorbing the force and protecting the guiding device from breakage. When the force is removed the guide l5 and the coupling means l3 return to their initial position due to the resiliency of the coupling means.

More in detail, the support ll may be, for example, a stationary part of the framework of a loom having a cavity 3 within which is tightly fitted a projecting pin i9. A coupling means l3 in the form of a tube is especially advantageous for mounting purposes because it can act as a sleeve at both ends. One end of the tube [3 fits tightly over the rigid pin projection l9 and its other end fits tightly over a shank 2| of the filament guiding device l5, being secured to both members frictionally, by shellac, sealing wax, or any other appropriate adhesive material, or

2 by heat sealing, The coupling tube l3 can be any suitable flexible material, which desirably is also resilient, for example a plastic such as rubber, vinyl resin, polyethylene, or polyvinylidene chloride, or it even may be a tubular tightly coiled helical wire spring.

To increase the friction between the shank 2| and the coupling tube l3, and to increase the holding effect of adhesives when used, it is advantageous for the portion of the shank 2| in contact with the coupling tube to have a rough surface, such as the matte surface ordinarily present on synthetic corundum and spinel rods when they are manufactured. The filament contacting portion of the guide in the bight I! has a glossy smooth surface to increase its wear resistance and to decrease its friction relatively to the filament guided thereby.

One embodiment of the invention has been described in detail by Way of illustration only. It is evident that changes in the construction and relative arrangement of parts can be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A filament guide comprising a support; a flexible coupler having one end secured to said support and an opposite end projecting therefrom, at least said opposite end being a sleeve; and a wear resistant filament guiding device having a portion fitting within said sleeve at said opposite end, said guiding device being freely movable with said coupler.

2. A filament guide comprising a support, said support comprising a projection; a flexible coupler comprising sleeves at both ends thereof, one sleeve of said coupler fitting over said projection; and a wear resistance filament guiding device having a portion fitting within the opposite sleeve of said coupler, said guiding device being freely movable with said coupler.

3. A filament guide comprising a support, said support comprising a projection; a flexible coupling tube sleeved at one end thereof over said projection; and a wear-resistant filament guiding device having a portion fitting Within the opposite I end of said tube, said guiding device being freely movable with said coupling tube.

4. A filament guide comprising a support, said support comprising a projection; a flexible coupling tube of plastic material fitting at one end thereof over said projection; and a wear resistant filament guiding device having a portion fitting within the opposite end of said tube, said guiding tuba essence device being fr'eely movable with said coupling 5. A filamentguide comprising a support; a

I flexible .coupler having one end secured to said support and an opposite end projecting there-' from, at'least said opposite end being a sleeve; and a wear resistant filament guiding device having a portion fitting within said sleeve at said opposite end, said portion having a rough surface in contact with said coupler, said guidingdevice support and an opposite end projecting therefrom, at least said opposite end being a sleeve; and a filament guiding device of material selected from the group consisting of unicrystalline corundam and spinel having a portion fitting within said sleeve, said guiding device being freely m0vable with said coupler.

7. A filament guide comprising a flexible cow pling tube, one end of said tube being adapted for connection to a support, and a filament guiding device having a shank fitting in the opposite end of said tube.

8. A filament guide comprising a flexible coupling tube, one end of said tube being adapted for connection to a support. and a filament guiding device having a shank fitting in the opposite end of said tube, said shank having a rough surface in contact with said tube.

9. A filament guide comprising a flexible cou- V pier or plastic material, at least one end of said coupler being a sleeve; and a filament guiding device having a portion fitting within said sleeve.

ARTHUR K. SEEMANN.

REFERENCES CHTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Bachlotte Sept. 7, 1943 

